There is a natural question to be asked after seeing the Giants struggle mightily for any kind of offensive flow against the Eagles on Sunday, then see them make the bold move to a no-huddle attack and suddenly move the ball with aplomb, score with great efficiency and produce a stunning comeback.

Why not go to the no-huddle earlier and why not use it more often?

“Possibly it’s something we could do more,” said Eli Manning.

Without that strategic adjustment, the Giants would not have erased a 24-7 fourth-quarter deficit and somehow escaped Philadelphia with a 30-24 overtime victory over the self-destructing Eagles. It was the spark they needed and could become more of a weapon in the games to come.

“I think we gained some momentum from that,” coach Tom Coughlin said.

Operating out of their base offense, with one tight end, a running back (Tiki Barber) and a fullback (Jim Finn), the Giants could not run the ball or protect Manning. Trailing 24-14 with 8:45 remaining in regulation, the Giants went into their two-minute offense, which features a no-huddle look, three receivers, Manning in the shotgun and a spread-the-field look.

In their final five possessions utilizing the no-huddle, the Giants scored two touchdowns and one field goal, successfully stealing a game in which they were dominated for more than three quarters. The Giants yesterday were a tired but relieved bunch and may have uncovered an offensive approach that best suits them.

The key to the operation is Manning, who is growing increasingly adept at directing traffic. In the no-huddle, no more than four or five of their most reliable plays are called. Manning at times is given two plays at one time and can check off from one to the other depending on the look he sees from the opposing defense.

“He’s got freedom and he’s got feel,” Coughlin said.

It is not a classic hurry-up attack and the Giants certainly can run the ball out of it, especially on quick delays and draws to Barber. Mostly, Manning is able to play pitch-and-catch with his receivers, which is precisely how the comeback took shape.

“When we need to score quickly or we need to change the pace, we can go to it and see if it works better,” Manning said.

There’s a freewheeling quality to the approach, one Manning admits he enjoys.

“Yeah, it’s always fun to win a game like that, when you’re down, you’re on the line of scrimmage, you’re calling plays . . . you’re not making things up, you’re kind of just playing football,” Manning said. “It’s fun to do sometimes, obviously it’s not what you like to have, you don’t want to be down, but sometimes you got to get off the track and just kind of just play ball.”

With his team headed for a showdown Sunday with the defending NFC champion Seahawks, Coughlin did not scoff at the notion the no-huddle could be seen more frequently.

“It depends on the tempo of the game,” he said.

As the Giants gathered to watch films of Sunday’s incredible game, the point was reinforced that they were fortunate to win a divisional battle after allowing eight sacks and playing seemingly without a clue on defense for long, painful stretches.

“We really needed to find an identity,” Amani Toomer said. “The fact we came back shows the grit of our team, it shows what we’re about. We’re gonna play hard for 60 minutes and if you let up in the last three or four, we’re gonna get you.”